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Australian scientists develop a nasal spray that could stop COVID-19 infection

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PHOTO CREDITS: ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Ena Respiratory, a biotech company in Australia, claims to be developing a nasal spray, called INNA-05, that may help boost the human immune system to fight COVID-19, flu, and common colds. Ena Respiratory also claimed the spray significantly reduced the growth of the Coronavirus in a recent study in animals, increasing potential for the nasal spray to not only help treat COVID-19, but also prevent it.

Laboratory experiments done by Ena Respiratory have shown that ninety-six percent of viral replication declined in animals when given INNA-05 in an animal study. The innate immune system, which is the body’s first line of defence, is triggered by the spray which prevents imitation and infection of SARS-CoV-2 in the lab. 

The research team from the National Infection Service, Public Health England (PHE) wanted to develop the nasal spray to prevent the facsimile of the virus in the nostril region, where the common entry point of the virus is located. To test the spray, the team obtained throat swab and nasal wash samples 96 hours before the viral challenge. Upon further analysis of the viral RNA in the nasal wash sample, the team confirmed infection in all treatment groups, with lower viral RNA levels seen in the INNA-051 treatment. The team found reduced levels of viral RNA in the nose and throat area. Further, the team added that, “The prophylactic approach is important to people at a high risk of community transmission or development of the severe disease from COVID-19, such as older adults, children, people with comorbidities, and those who are less immunified” (National Institutes of Health). 

This winter, common colds, the flu, and the Coronavirus represent major health threats. Children, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of being infected. This nasal spray developed Ena Respiratory presents a possible way to treat these illnesses as well as a way to possibly prevent these illnesses altogether. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a cause for the Coronavirus Disease, and continues to wreak havoc globally as scientists race to develop an effective medicine or vaccine to fight the infection. According to Google News, more than 35.3 million people have been infected since the pandemic started in December 2019, and scientists have been searching for a vaccination ever since. 

ARTICLE: PATEL CHAITANYA

EDITOR: KYLE SMITH, SCIENCE EDITOR

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